An intriguing start to a new series. With an interesting world, engaging characters (who we are only just getting to know), and plenty of tantalizing hints for what might be to come.

Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

This book tells the story of Layla el-Deeb, an FBI agent who's working on her first undercover operation.

Writing wise, it's clean and simple.

Story wise, it builds an interesting world. Given that it's the first episode in a mystery series, it can't be action packed, but it's still interesting.

Character wise, all of them seem somewhat complex and we con't know a lot about anyone, which makes me want to read more.

Rating: 4 stars

Thanks to net galley.com, author Lisa Klink and Serial Box, for the advance copy for my honest review.

Operation Cairo, is the first installment of a series that, will total 11 episodes, that make up False Idol, Season 1 and the author varies with each episode.

I really liked Lisa Klink writing, she lays a solid foundation for the rest of the serial and like how she brings the characters to life.

You basically have illegal artifacts seized by the FBI, due to the Homeland Security Act that was coming into New York, then going to a consignor that had a gallery in Egypt and the funds going to fund a terrorist organization.

They cut a deal with Gallery Owner Farwadi, that has FBI Language Specialist Layla el-Deeb teamed up with FBI Art Crime agent Ellen Pierce teamed up, then go undercover, trying to apprehend the embezzlers and stem the flow of money.

Operation Cairo's a great start to this serial series, with each one giving you more of the story, really like it and will continue to the series.

This review is posted on both amazon.com, kobo.com, b&n.com and goodreads.com

The Series didn't really hook in me so I won't be reading the rest of them!

Review: FALSE IDOLS OPERATION CAIRO (1.1)

In serial format (shades of Charles Dickens), OPERATION CAIRO leaps head-first into the very high-ticket black market of artifact smuggling. From the lowly locals paid a pittance to dig for artifacts in the desert (in this case, in Egypt) through the "fences," on to smugglers who ship concealed artifacts within legal cargo, eventually to high-end art galleries whose clientele collectors are greedy to increase their collection, and careless as to provenance, cost, or legality.

Language expert, FBI Intelligence Division Agent, Georgetown-educated Cairo native Layla al-Deeb synchronistically becomes a part of a new sting to break this black market scheme, which has been twisted to fund terrorists. The downtrodden child of the most disrespected area of Cairo now is undercover infiltrating the very top society echelons in her native metropolis, among greedy, uncaring, fabulously wealthy strangers. Layla is a stranger in her own land, becoming a stranger to herself. A rapid-paced read, OPERATION CAIRO sets its protagonists as a pigeon among cats, and her high intellect and gift for languages must translate into a chameleonic ability to pass as a scion of High Society.

3.5 stars

The first in an eleven installment serial, the story starts out with Layla el-Deeb going undercover at a big party in Cairo as the niece of a local art curator. Her background and the reason why she is going undercover becomes clear with flashbacks to 4 months prior when, during a raid in NYC on a cargo ship, cheap artifacts are found disguising real stolen artifacts that will be sold to fund terrorism.

This first installment, I thought, did a good job at setting up the background for Layla. No huge surprises, but I like where this story could head. Ancient artifacts, exotic locations, and a spy thriller - I am certainly interested to continue to read the next several installments.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher, Serial Box, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was okay, but didn't intrigue me to want to read more of the story. Might be good for people who like spy stuff, ancient relics, and Egypt.